Tony Sparano doesn’t like the impression the term “practice squad” gives to the eight players on it.

These are not tackling dummies, who come out each day, take their licks, and then hit the local bar to tell war stories.

“We don’t really call them a practice squad out here; we call them a developmental squad,” Sparano said Saturday. “Okay, and there’s a difference I think. Practice squad to me sounds like these guys just go out there, they practice and they get to go and drink beer at the end of the day and do whatever it is that they want to do.

“For us, we want to develop these players that are on this squad. Whoever they are, and wherever they might be. Okay, what we want to make sure of is we have a good clear vision for them.”

Sparano singled out running back Lex Hilliard as a player who spent last year on the practice squad, developed his skills and landed a spot on the team’s 53-man roster this weekend.

Whether there’s a Hilliard-style success story in this year’s group remains to be seen.

Eight players have a chance.

– C/G Mark Lewis, a rookie free agent at Oregon who can play both interior line positions.

– WR James Robinson, a CFL refugee who is raw but looks the part with his size (6-3, 193) and 4.3-range speed.

– DE Ryan Baker, has 3-4 end size (6-5, 295) and strength (34 reps with 225 at combine) combined an aggressive style of play.

– LB J.D. Folsom, was planning for life after football when the team used a seventh-round pick on him. Was around the ball a lot in camp and was one of two players (along with CB Sean Smith) with an INT in the pre-season.

– CB Will Billingsley, a member of the 2008 practice squad has excellent speed and shook off a terrible opening to camp to remain on team’s radar.

– WR Julius Pruitt, a rookie out of Ouachita Baptist, he ran a 4.42 in the 40 during a March 3 work out for the Rams and Packers. Tried out for Dolphins this summer, but team opted sign Robinson on Aug. 10.

– OT Nate Garner, drew Sparano’s praise during off-season and was expected to make the team until decisions forced Miami to keep four TEs.

– LB Danny Lansanah, second-year pro appeared in five games and had two tackles for the Packers last season.